by Cara Charles
Tucked within the long receiving line were the Bidens, the Clintons, the Gores, the George Bushes I and II, the Carters, the elder Senators, their wives, the elder Congressmen, their spouses, the elder statesmen of the press, their wives, Dan Rather, Cokie Roberts, Bill Moyers, Andrea Mitchell and Alan Greenspan, Tom Brokaw, Jim Learher, Robert MacNeill, the retired Supreme Court Justices and finally, the grown children of all the Presidents. And last in line, was Caroline.
As Joseph walked through the receiving line, many old Presidents and their First Ladies and family, friends and retired staff showered him with hearty handshakes and warm embraces. The women parted with perfume scented hugs and kisses, just the way he remembered them, long before the gray had settled in on all of them.
‘Where has all the time gone?’ Joseph thought. They all looked happy and well.
Caroline. Possessing the warmth and dignity of her mother, warmly embraced him. He noticed a hint of gray at her temples. Caroline looked at his breast pocket handkerchief. Her tears and smile grew. Joseph offered it to her. She wiped her eyes and tucked it back in his pocket.
“I think you’re going to need this today,” Caroline said, smiling.
CHAPTER TWELVE -- A DAY FOR HEROES
JOSEPH HUGGED HER and wiped his eyes with it. The long line led right into the East Room. Michelle took his arm again. The President escorted Mrs. Carter to their table as others followed. The President nodded. Michelle escorted Joseph into the room.
Everyone jumped to their feet and applauded. Joseph took in the wonderful decorations created for him, on par with those used for all visiting dignitaries, because he would know these things. Their eyes met.
Michelle winked at Joseph.
“All this is for me, Ma’am?” Joseph was choked with emotion.
“All for you, Joseph. You’ve earned it many times over.”
“You keep secrets so well.”
“We are all eternally grateful Joseph,” the President said as Michelle escorted Joseph to the center table of honor.
Joseph sighed. He was touched.
“For...” began the President, the Marine Band and the crowd joined in singing, “He’s a jolly good fellow, for he’s a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, that nobody can deny,” the song went on as tears began to stream down Joseph’s face.
As the crowd finished the song, cheers, tears, handshakes, flashes from cameras, and camera phones punctuated the joy of this special day hosted by this special First Family.
Joseph directed everyone to take their seats, then he pulled out the chair for Mrs. Obama as the President and the Robinsons took their seats.
“Thank you, thank you. Dear people. I am truly surprised and truly humbled,” he said.
As he sat down, Joseph was struck by the table setting.
“Ma’am, the Kennedy China too? I am so honored. How’d you arrange all this without me knowing a thing about it?”
Michelle produced a glittered and ribbon wrapped long twig, a humble magic wand from under her napkin.
Her girls giggled, not yet too grown to believe in magical things.
“The only way we could do things without you knowing. Pure Magic,” Michelle said.
With perfect comedic timing Sasha whispered, “it really works.”
The crowd laughed. Mrs. Obama kissed Joseph, then she took the podium.
“Welcome distinguished guests and friends of our honored guest, Joseph Roosevelt Jefferson. In celebration of fifty plus memorable years of dedicated, unmatched service and friendship, the one and only Mister Joseph Roosevelt Jefferson is very, very surprised. Wouldn’t you say?”
Everyone clapped and cheered, then chanted his name, “Joseph, Joseph, Joseph!”
“Here we are. One big, happy family, gathered to celebrate the loving dedication of our friend and teacher, a fine man who has touched all of our lives in immeasurable ways. Can you imagine? Fifty-five years? A lifetime of service to all of us, to this wonderful White House, and to our country. So let’s begin this glorious day honoring a wise, beloved, but humble man, our very own, one of a kind, Joseph Roosevelt Jefferson. President Carter will lead us in a prayer.”
President Carter took the podium as the room gave Joseph a standing ovation.
“Our Heavenly Father? We are gathered together on this day of days, to honor Joseph Roosevelt Jefferson in celebration of fifty-five years of service to his country and to all of the Presidents, First Ladies, our families, and this great house of the People since 1960. Joseph Jefferson has actually been in this house since the day he was born. We were doubly blessed with the devotion of his mother, Julia Jackson Jefferson, long with the White House since the Roosevelt era who gave all of her long life, like her devoted son to every one of us in this room today, and those dearly departed who made history in this House. Without Joseph and Julia, our time here would not have been as magical or as memorable or life altering, as it was. Without knowing it, Joseph Jefferson is a born diplomat and philosopher. His special midnight snacks such as grilled ham and cheese sandwiches or fresh corn bread in warm milk spiced with vanilla or other secret spirits, always found a way to soothe a heavy heart. Joseph has a knack for knowing just what you needed that particular night. The private chats we in this room have had with him over the years, lifted our heavy hearts, and surely helped shape history. May he be blessed with many more years of wise counsel, vitality, and good health as we celebrate and honor the extraordinary man that Joseph Roosevelt Jefferson is, Amen.”
“Amen.”
One by one, Presidents and First Ladies and many of the grown children, all of the White House staff past and present, took the podium to pay tribute to a man who had taught them all the finer points of service and protocol, the most important families of the land since 1960. And finally, as Caroline took the podium, Joseph took out his handkerchief and blotted his tear stained face. Caroline looked over at him and began to tear up.
“Joseph and I, well... we always have that effect on each other.”
Caroline wiped away the tear that was underscored by her smile. The room understood.
“What many of you may not know is why. I think it’s time the world knew Joseph. Mother would want it that way and so do I. The handkerchief Joseph has in his breast pocket was one of my mother’s favorite possessions. Joseph offered it to her the day she and Joseph picked out the clothes for my father’s funeral.”
The room sighed and their tears came freely. They were instantly transported back to that tragic moment in their history. Many realized more profoundly than ever, Joseph was an extraordinary man, well on his way to becoming a living legend.
“Mother said, she insisted Joseph give her another one of his brand new monogrammed handkerchiefs so it could be placed in Dad’s pocket, which he did.”
The room jumped to their feet applauding. Joseph hung his head and shook off the emotion. The room settled as Caroline continued.
“When my mother was ill Joseph visited many weekends, staying by her side night and day, laughing about old times, making her his special snacks. John and I knew he prolonged her life so we could have more time together. Joseph has given my family many precious gifts over the years, none better than the gift of his heart. Mother had me swear I’d return that special handkerchief to him. When we lost her and then John, I used it as she had those many years ago. My mother said without Joseph by her side, she would not have been able to get through that day or the next several days, or the next several years, or her final days. It was Joseph who gave my mother the idea to create my father’s legacy, and the courage to go forward. So to you my dear Joseph, my family and our little world here will always be forever in your debt.”
The room stood and gave her a standing ovation as Caroline crossed to Joseph and embraced him for a very long time. Joseph offered Caroline the handkerchief. The room sighed.
Caroline whispered, “I can still smell her perfume.”
“So can I. All these years later. She’ll a
lways be with us.”
Joseph kissed her cheek.
Caroline dabbed her eyes, dabbed his cheeks and tucked the handkerchief back in his pocket, kissed his cheek and took her seat.
President Clinton, Vice President Gore, and others came forth and lightened the mood.
Especially, Vice President Biden.
There was much laughter, tears, and much love for an honorable, and selfless man, expressed by so many.
Joseph slipped his hand in his pocket and touched their good luck thimble. Mama’s wisdom and her teachings lived on.
The President took the podium.
“Joseph? It is time we turned the podium over to you. Being the President, the buck stops with me. I’ve been chosen to do the begging. This room full of people who love and admire you won’t want to leave unless you share one of your famous stories with us. We had a vote. With ‘unanimous consent.’ I do believe for the first time since we took office, this unanimous vote has made history.”
The room howled with laughter as President Obama’s smile lit up the room.
“Julia and Joseph live in each of us every moment of our lives spent in this great house.”
The room stood chanting, “Joseph, Joseph. Joseph, Joseph,” until he raised his hand surrendering.
They cheered as Joseph took the podium, and was embraced by the President.
NOW STANDING ALONE, CENTER STAGE on his day, the standing ovation, and the chanting of his name overwhelmed him, as one by one he looked out at the sea of loving, smiling, encouraging faces of the history makers. When he saw the face of someone who had snuck in, and he hadn’t seen in years, he pointed at them, threw back his head and laughed. They were his extended family and today they had come from all over, just to honor him. He was humbled.
‘Fifty-five years? Where had all the time gone?’
His gaze ended on Barack and Michelle. With their girls and family, he felt privileged to be part of them. Joseph felt a lump in his throat. He cleared his throat and shook his head to keep the tears from escaping. He returned their smiles and their love. With his weathered hands, he encouraged them back into their seats.
“I can see why this is so addicting!”
Joseph said looking at the President and President Clinton and all the long time politicians.
Joseph pointed at Joe Biden, the longest serving public servant in the room and he nodded, agreeing completely.
Vice President Biden said, “and Howdy. Don’t I know it!”
The room howled with rolling laughter that went on and on as Joseph pointed, and each elected official in the room nodded their heads or held their hand up, confirming their addiction to the adoring crowds, causing more laughter. Joseph’s wisdom, spot on.
Then they finally took their seats, many wiping tears from laughing so hard.
President Clinton added, “Joe’s got me beat. I think? What do you think Hillary?”
Secretary Clinton added, “If we’re counting school elections too, which I know Bill is doing in his head right now aren’t you dear, then you’ve got some competition, Joe.”
President Clinton nodded.
“See? Sorry Joe, but I think Bill’s got the edge,” Secretary Clinton threw up her hands.
The room howled, admittedly they were all counting, taking side bets.
Joseph said, “Should I lay the odds?”
Secretary Clinton added, “Yes. I take Joe, but be forewarned if there’s an edge to be found Bill will find it.”
“How old are you Bill?” Joe Biden asked, counting on his fingers.
Hillary shook her head, “Confer later, boys.”
Joseph laughed. “I’ll send a memo to all of you who wins their bet. Well, thank you my dear Presidents, First Ladies, First Families, friends and colleagues, for a surprising, and touching reception. It is so good to see so many old friends. Most older than me...”
The room exploded in laughter as Joseph pointed to the oldest in the room, including the Vice President who shook his head, ‘no, not me,’ then, President Carter shrugged meaning, ‘no not him, either.
Mrs. Carter hid her face shaking her head, knowing she was the cheese.
The laughter was spectacular.
“Yes... and you know who you are.... and have come a long way to see this old man who sees you don’t feel quite so old today either.”
Then Joseph danced a little gig at the podium, an understanding underscored by laughter and applause, rippled through the room.
“You all know without my hero, my mother Julia Mae Jefferson I would not be standing here today, honored by so many. And I am truly humbled by this honor. It is “a wonderful fuss” as she used to say. Mama never stopped talking about her surprise party and about getting to dance with all her Presidents. She felt honored by you all as I do, today. I know you’d like me to share the remarkable story of how my Mama, little Julia Mae Jackson Jefferson cook’s helper, came to be in service to the People’s House of the Free World, the White House of the United States of America one last time. A little mood music maestro, if you please.”
The room laughed, then a lone saxophonist played “Summertime” from Porgy and Bess.
Joseph smiled, so appreciating the significance of the soloist, as did President Clinton who gave the sax player a thumb’s up.
“I do love that song,” Joseph said, and smiled at Michelle.
As Joseph waited for the room to settle, he scanned his family of smiling faces. He wished he could see them every day for the rest of his life, filing their happy faces away with his other precious memories. In his uncertain future, he would remember them as they are today, happy and full of love.
The room hushed.
It seemed to Joseph no one was moving, just smiling. Some realized Joseph was capturing their faces for all time and tears were coming to their eyes. He looked at Michelle, smiled and winked back, mouthed the word, ‘wow.’ She nodded and blew him a kiss, as a tear rolled down her cheek. Her husband squeezed her hand. Mrs. Robinson smiled proudly and nodded to Joseph. With this validation, he began.
“My sweet little Mama told me her story of good fortune ten thousand times when I was a child, and every year thereafter knowing someday I’d appreciate the wonder and good fortune of it all. When her anniversary of that fateful day, the 6th of May 1935, a day in Mama’s life that delivered unto us such an extraordinary adventure amongst you, the shapers of history, I hope her story will never get worn out by the telling.”
“It was the depth of the Depression, but life went on that spring day in 1935. Young and beautiful and on the threshold of her adult life my Mama, twenty-one year old Julia Mae Jackson Jefferson, native of Warm Springs, Georgia prayed for miracles, everyday. She prayed for a good man and found one in my Daddy, Joseph Senior. Mama always said she forgot to pray for a long life together, because she found herself a widow only two years after marrying him. Having just lost him to a railroad accident and expecting me to boot, Mama stepped up her daily prayers. As she said, “in those hard times she too was ‘starvin’ for a miracle.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MAMA, MY HERO
“USING ALL OF HIS INHERITANCE, Mr. Franklin Delano Roosevelt bought the run down Warm Springs Spa several years earlier and the grounds around it, some 2600 acres.”
“Right in Mama’s humble mountain town, Mr. Roosevelt created his Institute for Juvenile Paralysis, better known as Polio simply because a friend told him the mineral pools would restore strength to his withering legs. Mama said the mineral baths did make him feel better. His new polio hospital was going to be a miracle, and his donation of the Spa to the Institute was an answer to the community’s prayers. Mr. Roosevelt’s very name had polio sufferers from across the world coming to Warm Springs for the hot mineral baths and treatments. FDR’s Spa gave people jobs where there were no jobs in that tiny mountain town. Because of Mr. Roosevelt and his condition, business in Warm Springs, and at Warm Springs Spa and polio hospital was brisk and growing quickly, esp
ecially since Mr. Roosevelt won the election in 1932.”
“Since she was twelve years old, Mama had had a job as a cook’s helper at the former spa. She was lucky to keep her job at the President’s new polio hospital, because she made sure they knew she could peel potatoes faster than any body else. Here, she could eat at least two meals a day and sometimes take home leftovers. She fed many poor neighbors with that food. Second best, she could save money for nurse schooling at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Best of all, she even had enough to pay Leta the local midwife, as there was no hospital for the Warm Springs colored folk unless in your hour of need by some miracle you could get yourself to the Tuskegee Institute, eighty miles away.”
“Many had the desire to go, but not the means. To travel freely in the South in those days, was just short of impossible for poor folks of any color, but especially for folks of color. So Mama said she began to pray for bigger miracles on a daily basis hoping it was not sinful, knowing people were starving, feeding off the land on berries, truly eating anything they could find. After dark, Mama fed people out the back door of her house with the discards from the hospital kitchen, because it was harder and harder to wait for the good things that Mr. Roosevelt was doing for the country to find their way up the mountain to little Warm Springs. Being from the South, she knew FDR was creating work and relief programs to help plain folks, and eventually the colored folk, while first making the Southern politicians happy. He needed those demanding Southern politicians to get re-elected as the nominee for the Democratic Party. Walking that fine line was a very hard thing to do in those days. But he kept them happy, while Mama and her neighbors waited.”
“‘Pray for the impossible,’ her Mama had taught her she said, and it could happen. She admired President Roosevelt and Mrs. Eleanor because they were slowly bringing about a “change.”
“A change was in the air, she used to say.”
Joseph winked at the Obamas and they smiled back.